SD/Axe....Whoa.

Some PBAoE numbers up there w/arcanatime factored in for DPAs. Formatting's messed up, but as you can follow, WA has horrible base numbers. I know a lot of ppl disregard DPA for AoE attacks, but I still think they're crucial. Still, if you like front loaded damage, you can just look at those too.

Now, Axe has 2 cones, but Cleave has a 20deg arc (by comparison, Shadow Maul has a 45 deg arc). It's basically Headsplitter/GD. If you're wasting time trying to line up 3-4 mobs w/that, you're actually reducing your efficiency (2's not that bad if things line up right). Pendulum's much better, but only hits 5 mobs max, and with a shorter radius to boot. Mace has far superior cones, we all agree.

SS has no cones, but w/Rage and the silly radius of FS, it far outstrips Axe. 15' radius vs 8' btw. IM has a better cone and a much better PBAoE (plus, again, cold damage is less resisted--a minor point, but a factor nonetheless). FA isn't quite as good as FS w/only a 10' radius, but better than 8', and more damage too. Fire is damage king, ST & AoE. DB has a higher DPA PBAoE that recharges faster too. And did you really try to compare WA to Spin? I stuck those numbers in just for a laugh.

Don't wanna listen to me? Fine, Starsman did some very comprehensive tests for melee offensive capabilities. In his first batch, he concluded Mace was actually higher up than Ice Melee because he weighted cones too heavily. Currently, it's Fire, SS then IM (I argued for a while that IM > SS because of the cone, but was proven wrong--that's how powerful SS is w/just one PBAoE), but this was before ELM, which I'm guessing falls bet. SS & IM. Axe isn't remotely close to those top 4 AoE sets.

You can choose to believe these and other findings or not; if you're having fun, that's all that matters, yada, yada. If you're not into number crunching, by all means, go out and kill things at your pace and feel all godly about it. At the end of the day, I'm still not bashing Axe--it's a fun set with a lot of good things about it. To reiterate, it's flashy, hella cool, good ST damage, good mitigation and *okay* AoE damage for a tanker (kicks the crap out of EM, Stone & Dark). It is however not the AoE monster that you're describing and not by a long shot.

First thing to factor in is slotting. When people level up they may pick powers such as spin late and then get around to slotting it. So in game the numbers aren't enough to go on.

The good thing about Mids is that most people can compare powersets accurately enough in terms of most things for what they want.

I've put respecs together and leveled up slotting without Mids too, Mids is a good thing to help with making a plan to stick to and remember though. I wish I can remember every build adaptation I've made. No different from a nice notebook and pen really.

Yes and no.

I agree 100% that Slotting is involved.I dissagree 100% to Mids being a accurate program.

I dont use a note book and pen, or Mids.The games so friggin simple you dont need either.

For those who dont take powers like Spin till much later, and dont bother slotting them for a long while, thats on them.On my SD/Axe Tanker being level 40, I have no slotting issues, nore do I have Endurance Issues with the build.

I have 5 Slots on Whirling Axe.3 Damage SOs, and 2 Endurance Redux.I also grabbed up Whirling Axe the moment it was available, and the very next level I granted it 2 more slots for full SO damage capability.

I guess I have the uncommon capability of grabbing every single power minus 1 between all my powers in my chosen sets by level 40.My SD/Axe doesnt have Grant Cover.I havnt needed it yet.

So for most players, Slotting and power choices are tough, but not for me.Its simple.

I use Ninja Run for my Travel power, and pick up only the Fittness Pool.Swift, Health, Stamina.Thats the only pool I pick up by level 20-24, and by level 40, im minus 1 single power out of my sets.So Mids has no place for me at all.

Now, Dave_p, I want to point out to you that the diffrence in Radius for Footstomp and Whirling Axe is a mute point.I have no issues tagging the max number of baddies with WA when I solo.I rarely team with this Tanker at all.So radius dont mean diddly.

Also the numbers youv brought up more then prove my point.Yes, Axe does 44 base damage, Footstomp does 63.FS also costs 20 End vs 13 End from WA.FS also takes 20 base seconds to recharge, where as WA takes 14 base seconds.

Now humor me if you will.Take WA and grant it max Recharge, even Slap hasten on it, then do the same for FS.What do you get?The numbers come out even in the long run.WA has to fire off more times to match FS for damage, but SURPRISE!Its got a faster recharge and lower end cost.That would make it about even with FS wouldnt it?Shucks....do I get a cookie for this one?

Mid's shows the initial numbers, nothing else.Doesnt show slotting, how the powers used, nore does the Radius matter.Bottom line and Fact.In a Solo mob situation, SD/Axe beats a SD/SS build in AoE Damage.To point out the radius is stupid because it doesnt matter when they are all in range of EVERY AoE and Cone Radius for the melee set.

Hows that for a stubbern child Dave?

Ohh almost forgot!

Figure in the fact that because WA not only recharges faster, but midigates damage more often, which beats FS in that area as well.Now if your only argument is Damage and Radius, then youv got a pretty weak and flimsy one.Over time the fact that WA fires off more often then FS does, means it has the ability to match FS damage.

So no, Mid's and a DPS calculator can take a flying leap.It you want Alpha Damage without midigation for a Single Target?Sure, go for Mid's.

I tell you what Dave.Send me a Private Message and ill give you the server and name of my Tanker, and ill show you first hand how fast a mob drops on this build.

You do realize that DPE and DPA of all the attacks listed is up there right?

You have to remember he has the temperament of a 12 year old and apparently only reads what he wants to read.

Anyhow, lol at WA having more mitigation that Footstomp. You really need to stop being bad and play the set first.

I was always crazy about broadsword, axe is pretty much the only set giving the same feeling. Mace is perhaps better, but i serious dislike the sqeeeek sounds. Each time i do that headsplitter alike power, still brings a huge smile on my face